DEPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH POORER CLINICAL FUNCTIONING AMONG HISPANIC OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Objective The aim of the current study was to examine associations between depression and clinical functioning among a multi-ethnic sample. Methods 35 cognitively normal and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) participants were included and self-identified as Hispanic or white non-Hispanic (WNH). The Hispanic group (n=18), had a mean age of 70.83 (SD=7.66) and 15.59 mean years of education (SD= 3.43). The WNH group (n=17) had a mean age of 71.76 (SD=6.9) and 16.81 mean years of education (SD=2.59). Subjects were given the Alzheimer’s disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) ADL inventory, the modified Clinical Dementia Rating scale (mCDR), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Linear regressions were conducted to analyze the predictive associations between GDS scores and ADL functioning while controlling for the effect of diagnosis and age. Results Among Hispanics, the overall regression was significant (R2 = .622, F(2,17)= 12.32, p<.001). Higher GDS scores was found to significantly predict worse mCDR scores (β = .676, p<.001) when controlling for the effects other factors. When examining ADCS-ADL scores, the overall model was also found to be significant (R2= .413, F(2,17)=5.28, p<.05). Higher GDS scores significantly predicted worse ADCS-ADL scores (β = =.652, p<.01) when controlling for the effects of other factors. Diagnosis and age did not significant predict ADL scores. Among the WNH group, the regression model was not significant and depression was not a significant predictor of ADL functioning. Conclusions The results suggest Hispanics are more vulnerable to the effects of depression on ADL function which has important implications for AD diagnosis.


RURAL LIVING AND DISABILITY IN OLDER ADULTS: THE ROLE OF ALTERNATIVE SUPPORT RESOURCES AS MEDIATORS
Bernard Steinman 1 , and Daniel Barbakoff 2 , 1. University of Wyoming,Laramie,Wyoming,United States,2. Weill Cornell Medical College,New York,New York,United States Rural communities are often characterized by sparse service environments offering limited care, services, and conveniences that help with daily activities. In lieu of community services that target older adults to assist with aging-in-place, alternative supportive features, including environmental modification and informal social networks may be especially important in rural settings to preserve functional independence. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of alternative support resources as potential mediators between service environments and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functioning of older adults living in rural settings. Data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) were analyzed. Guided by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, regression models included covariates for sociodemographics, chronic conditions, mobility functioning, and participation. Service environments were quantified using a measure of the number of services (e.g., help with bathing) available in communities. Two potentially important support features were tested as mediators. Environmental modification was operationalized using indicators of whether homes had been modified (e.g., with features such as grab bars). Size and quality of individuals' social networks were calculated using indicators of whom participants spoke to about important things in their life. Measures of ADLs served as key dependent variables. Results suggest a negative statistical relationship between service environments and disability that is explained in part by the availability of alternative support resources. Implications are that older adults who live in rural communities may often benefit by employing home modifications and relying on informal care options to meet their needs. Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine associations between depression and clinical functioning among a multi-ethnic sample.

DEPRESSION IS ASSOCIATED WITH POORER CLINICAL FUNCTIONING AMONG HISPANIC OLDER ADULTS
Methods: 35 cognitively normal and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) participants were included and selfidentified as Hispanic or white non-Hispanic (WNH). The Hispanic group (n=18), had a mean age of 70.83 (SD=7.66) and 15.59 mean years of education (SD= 3.43). The WNH group (n=17) had a mean age of 71.76 (SD=6.9) and 16.81 mean years of education (SD=2.59). Subjects were given the Alzheimer's disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) ADL inventory, the modified Clinical Dementia Rating scale (mCDR), and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Linear regressions were conducted to analyze the predictive associations between GDS scores and ADL functioning while controlling for the effect of diagnosis and age.
Results: Among Hispanics, the overall regression was significant (R2 = .622, F(2,17)= 12.32, p<.001). Higher GDS scores was found to significantly predict worse mCDR scores (β = .676, p<.001) when controlling for the effects other factors. When examining ADCS-ADL scores, the overall model was also found to be significant (R2= .413, F(2,17)=5.28, p<.05). Higher GDS scores significantly predicted worse ADCS-ADL scores (β = =.652, p<.01) when controlling for the effects of other factors. Diagnosis and age did not significant predict ADL scores. Among the WNH group, the regression model was not significant and depression was not a significant predictor of ADL functioning.
Conclusions: The results suggest Hispanics are more vulnerable to the effects of depression on ADL function which has important implications for AD diagnosis.

ADDRESSING ALZHEIMER'S DISPARITIES AMONG BLACK POPULATIONS WITH BRAINGUIDE BY USAGAINSTALZHEIMER'S Brooks Kenny, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, Kensington, Maryland, United States
Older, Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's disease (AD), accounting for 15% (~1 million) of all individuals aged 65+ living with AD (5.8 million). Stigma, fear, and gaps in education contribute to 60% of undetected AD cases. In Georgia, AD remains the 6th leading cause of death. By 2029, cases are projected to spike by 46%, from 130,000 to 190,000. Given these alarming statistics and in response to AD health disparities in this population, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, in partnership with community leaders and organizations, launched a pilot outreach program to promote AD prevention and brain health awareness in Atlanta. Program goals included: increasing knowledge about brain health, emphasizing the importance of early detection and diagnosis, raise awareness of BrainGuide™ by UsAgainstAlzheimer's and other brain health resources, and develop a network of organizations for ongoing collaboration, awareness, and education. Program strategies included accessing highly saturated, faith-based spaces like mega churches, circulating key messaging through paid and earned media, and hosting widely received community webinars. UsAgainstAlzheimer's collected participant feedback and examined BrainGuide website traffic to evaluate the effectiveness of community engagement on increasing brain health awareness and addressing AD stigma in Atlanta. Preliminary findings indicate a 96% increase in BrainGuide traffic from Atlanta and 70% increased engagement with BrainGuide resources, compared to the national average. UsAgainstAlzheimer's' pilot program suggests that brain health promotion, grounded in community engagement from trusted influencers, has potential to raise brain health awareness and empower people to take action. Further research and learnings are required to determine program scalability.

SOCIAL EPIGENETICS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN AGING
Isabel Yannatos 1 , Sharon Xie 1 , Rebecca Brown 2 , and Corey McMillan 1 , 1. University of Pennsylvania,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,United States,2. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,United States Racial disparities in many aging-related health outcomes are persistent and pervasive among older Americans. There are well-documented inequities in social and physical environmental exposures which may contribute to these disparities, but we lack understanding of the biological intermediates by which environmental exposures affect disparate health outcomes. DNA methylation (DNAm) aging captures the residual between biological age, robustly measured by GrimAge and Dunedin Pace of Aging methylation (DPoAm), and chronological age. We hypothesize that neighborhood social environment and air pollution exposures contribute to racial disparities in DNAm aging. We performed retrospective cross-sectional analyses among non-Hispanic participants (N=2611 White, N=639 Black) in the Health and Retirement Study whose 2016 DNAm age is linked to survey responses and geographic data. We observed Black individuals have significantly accelerated DNAm aging on average compared to White individuals according to GrimAge (599%) and DPoAm (498%). We implemented linear regression models and Kittagawa-Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition to identify exposures that contribute to this disparity. Exposure measures include census-tract-level Social Deprivation Index, perceived social stress, particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and ozone. Individual-level determinants include socioeconomic status, healthcare access, health status, and health behaviors. Results suggest these individual-level factors account for ~43% of the disparity in GrimAge and ~34% in DPoAm. Higher neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation for Black participants significantly contributes to the disparity in GrimAge, while greater vulnerability to PM2.5 contributes to the disparity in DPoAm. DNAm aging may play a role in the environment "getting under the skin" and contributing to age-related health disparities between Black and White Americans.